A new tick species ID'ed in NY

Top row: The black-legged/deer tick familyMiddle row: Poppy seeds Bottom row: Nymph and adult longhorned ticksSource: New York State Department of Health

State and federal health officials are warning New Yorkers to take renewed precautions against ticks after a new species was recently discovered in Westchester County.

Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, commonly known as the "longhorned tick," was discovered in locations around the county recently. The tick is not native to the U.S. and is commonly found in Australia, New Zealand and eastern Asia. However, these ticks have been found recently in New Jersey, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Arkansas.

While they have been known to transmit disease to humans in other parts of the world, health officials say more research is needed to determine whether that's possible in the U.S.

"We will continue to conduct surveillance and research on this new type of tick, but it is encouraging that the same steps that protect against deer ticks are also effective against the longhorned tick," said state Health Commissioner Howard Zucker.

The ticks may also pose a risk to livestock. Farmers should work with veterinarians to check their animals — particularly cattle, sheep and horses — for exposure to ticks and to ensure their parasite control plans are up to date and working. Symptoms of tick-borne disease in cattle include fever, lack of appetite, dehydration, weakness and labored breathing.

The Department of Agriculture and Markets is encouraging livestock owners and veterinarians to also be vigilant for unusually heavy tick infestations. If longhorned ticks are suspected, farmers should consult with their veterinarians and contact the state Department of Agriculture and Markets Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502 or dai@agriculture.ny.gov.

The ticks discovered downstate were identified by researchers from the state Health Department, Fordham University and New York Medical College's Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center, and confirmed by Rutgers University Center for Vector Biology and the United States Department of Agriculture.

To protect against ticks while hiking or spending time outdoors:

Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to protect against ticks other biting insects.

Check for ticks often while outdoors and brush off any ticks before they attach.

Perform a full body check multiple times during the day, as well as at the end of the day to ensure that no ticks are attached.

Consider use of repellents containing DEET, picaridin or IR3535, following label instructions.

If you have been bitten by a tick of any kind, contact your health care provider immediately if you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms.

Bethany Bump writes about all things health, including state and local health policy, addiction and mental health for the Times Union.

She has previously covered education, business and local governments, and won awards for her coverage of health care and addiction issues.

Bump joined the Times Union in 2015, after a four-year stretch at The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, N.Y.She graduated from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications in 2011, with a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science.